title: Controlling conformations of conjugated polymers and small molecules: the role of nonbonding interactions.
abstract: The chemical variety present in the organic electronics literature has motivated us to investigate potential nonbonding interactions often incorporated into conformational "locking" schemes. We examine a variety of potential interactions, including oxygen-sulfur, nitrogen-sulfur, and fluorine-sulfur, using accurate quantum-chemical wave function methods and noncovalent interaction (NCI) analysis on a selection of high-performing conjugated polymers and small molecules found in the literature. In addition, we evaluate a set of nonbonding interactions occurring between various heterocyclic and pendant atoms taken from a group of representative π-conjugated molecules. Together with our survey and set of interactions, it is determined that while many nonbonding interactions possess weak binding capabilities, nontraditional hydrogen-bonding interactions, oxygen-hydrogen (CH···O) and nitrogen-hydrogen (CH···N), are alone in inducing conformational control and enhanced planarity along a polymer or small molecule backbone at room temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States. nicholasjackson2016@u.northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Nicholas E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Brett M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Savoie
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kohlstedt
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olvera de la Cruz
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Lin X
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ratner
mesh_terms: D005461:Fluorine / Q000737:chemistry*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D005461:Fluorine; D013455:Sulfur; D006859:Hydrogen; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen